• Where do your dogs come from? Why are they available?
  Doesn't it mean they created some problems before?

• What do you charge for your dogs?

• What is a "no-kill" shelter?

• Why does SOS GSD Rescue screen potential adopters so carefully?

• Why does SOS GSD Rescue need to come to my home before approving the adoption?  What are you looking for?

• I don't have a physical fence.  Will invisible fencing be acceptable?

• What are the advantages of adopting a dog from breed rescue as opposed to buying from a breeder or getting straight from a shelter?

• Will an adult bond to me as well a puppy would?

• Why are all SOS GSD Rescue dogs spayed or neutered? 

• Why do I have to live within a 3 hour driving radius of West Tennessee? Do you make exceptions?

• One of your rescue dogs is perfect for me!  Can you hold him for me till I am ready to adopt?

• Are SOS dogs healthy?

• What do I do if I have to give up my dog?  Can you find him a new home?

• How much does it cost to properly care for a dog?

• What's wrong with offering my dog FREE TO GOOD HOME?

Q.  Where do your dogs come from? Why are they in rescue? Doesn't it mean they created some problems before?
A.  Dogs are taken into rescue for two basic reasons. First is the 'stray' or 'abandoned' dog found in shelters, and we never know why most are there. Sometimes the dog is sick, sometimes people do not monitor their pets and they 'escape'. Maybe the fence isn't tall enough; maybe they left their German Shepherd unattended in a backyard and a gate left open; in any case, these reasons are not the fault of the dog, but the fault of negligent owners.

The second reason is owner-surrender, and normally this is because of a life-style change of  the owner. Maybe they are relocating and can not take their German Shepherd Dog; possibly they have a job change and can no longer spend time with him; or possibly they are getting married and no longer feel that the dog will fit in.  Now with the economy the way it is, more and more good dogs are becoming victims of the real estate and foreclosure crisis.

Sometimes the original owner buys a dog on impulse, such as a cute little puppy at the pet store. The owner is not prepared for the usual problems such as housebreaking and chewing, or the dog's u ltimate size and strength. The owner may have bought the dog for a child who may be too young to be responsible for the dog. Other reasons for abandoning a dog include moving, inability to handle behavioral problems and the challenge of arranging care when the owner travels.

We also occasionally help with breeder referrals. These are retired show dogs or obedience dogs, or sometimes youngsters that didn't progress as planned, or even dogs that have been returned to the breeder for some of the same reasons we get owner surrender. These dogs are healthy well-bred dogs and just need a family of their own.

Remember, when you adopt a dog of any kind you are committing to the entire life of your dog.

Q. What do you charge for your dogs?
A.  The adoption fee for the dog you take home not only reimburses rescue for his expenses but helps us save others.  Actually in many cases we do not recover the expenses we've spent on a particular dog.  SOS German Shepherd Rescue requests a minimum donation of:

$300 for any dog 1 year and younger (BABY)
$250 for any dog 1-3 years (YOUNG)
$200 for any dog 3-7 years (ADULT)
$150 for dogs over 7 (SENIOR)

Occasionally we ask a little more or a little less for a certain dog.   If you're a senior and would consider providing a loving home for a Senior GSD we would love to work with you and a discount may be available!

Don't forget the adoption fee for the dog you take home not only helps us offset the expenses we've incurred for your dog, but helps us save others.

Make sure you consider the normal expenditures associated with owning a dog as well.

Q. What is a "no-kill" shelter?
A.  A "no-kill" shelter is a shelter that does not put a time limit on how long an adoptable animal may remain at the shelter while awaiting adoption. No-kill shelters face limitations of space available to house animals. "No-kill" does not mean "never kill".  Euthanasia is performed under certain circumstances, such as an animal so aggressive or ill that it can never be placed, or an animal in pain that cannot be alleviated.  Euthanasia is a heart-wrenching decision never taken lightly.

Q.  Why does SOS GSD Rescue screen potential adopters so carefully?
A.  We love the breed and are multiple shepherd families ourselves! But we also recognize that German Shepherds are not the perfect breed for everyone. Because these dogs have lost their original homes--for whatever reason--we want their new home to be a permanent home. We want loving forever homes that are committed to making the adoption work. We ask lots of questions because we want the right GSD to go to your home, not just any GSD.

Q.  Why does Save Our Shepherds need to send someone to my home before approving the adoption?  What are you looking for?
A.  We want to make sure that you are not a hoarder of many dozens of animals, or using dogs for bait in dog fighting, or selling animals to research facilities....basically we're just making sure that you are who you say you are in your application.  And don't worry if your home and yard are not perfect...our's rarely are!  In fact, we feel more comfortable knowing that your property is not in "Better Homes and Gardens" pristine condition. If it looks lived in, we know the dog will be allowed to be a dog and not get yelled at for shedding and so forth. So please don't waste any energy worrying if things aren't perfect.  We want you to join our SOS family.

Q.  What are the advantages of adopting a dog from breed rescue as opposed to buying from a breeder or getting straight from a shelter?
A.  There are many!  One of the major advantages of adopting a rescue dog s opposed to buying from a breeder or getting an animal straight out of a shelter is that you know experienced GSD people have evaluated the dog and matched the animal to your expectations.  Living with the dogs in our homes allows us a good chance to identify their strengths and work on those area that may need some improvement.  We've had an opportunity to brush up skills like potty training and work on problem areas like getting in the garbage or counter surfing.

Q.  I don't have a physical fence.  Will invisible fencing be acceptable?
A.  Invisible fencing may seem like an attractive idea on the outset, but once you learn all the facts, you will quickly learn it is NOT a good idea. Dogs can — and will — go through an invisible fence. And once they do, guess what? They won’t come back into the yard for fear of getting shocked; they aren’t stupid. Underground fencing does not keep anyone else from entering your property. Therefore, children, cats, other dogs, wild animals and the like are free to come onto your property and tease, terrorize or KILL your dog. Click here for more information about WHY WE WILL NOT ADOPT TO HOMES WITH INVISIBLE FENCING.

Q.  Will an adult bond to me as well a puppy would?
A.  YES! An adult dog usually is very aware that he has been "chosen" and is grateful for his loving new home. He is likely to follow his new pack leader devotedly, and will show great affection for his new pack members. He might carry along with him a few habits from his original home but with patience and good training these can be changed.

Q.  Why are all SOS GSD Rescue dogs spayed or neutered?
A.  All dogs placed through us are required to be spayed or neutered because there is a surplus of dogs- purebred as well as mixes. The German Shepherd Dog is a popular breed, resulting in many homeless GSDs. Too many dogs, purebred and mixed-breed, are put to death every year simply because there are no homes for them. Many purebred dogs give birth to or sire mixed-breed dogs. By spaying and neutering we help keep the surplus population of pets down.  Our goal is to reduce the high euthanasia rate of perfectly sound dogs.

Q.  Why do I have to live within a 3 hour driving radius of West Tennessee?
A.  We prefer to adopt within a radius of a 3 hour driving distance to where each dog is currently located.  Exceptions can be made under specific circumstances.  Our reasoning behind this is that if for some reason the adoption does not work out, the dog is required to be returned to us.  Return of the dog is made easier by close proximity.  Please feel free to complete an adoption application if you feel we should make an exception in your case but please keep our policy in mind.

Q.  One of your rescue dogs is perfect for me!  Can you hold him for me till I am ready to adopt?
A.  We do not reserve dogs. Even if you seem like the perfect match for a particular dog, we will not hold a dog in a foster home to wait for you to get approved, nor will we hold on to a dog for a period of time once you are approved. It is not fair to the dog should another family come along that is equally as well matched.  Likewise it is unfair to the foster home and to another needy dog who can not be saved because our foster homes are full. We recommend that you get approved before you see a dog you want so that when the right match comes along, you will be ready.

Q.  Are SOS Dogs healthy?
A.  Save Our Shepherds frequently spends more than the adoption fee making sure, to the best of our ability, that the dog you adopt is healthy.  Each dog we bring into our program is fully vetted.  This includes stool check, heartworm test, all vaccinations, rabies shots, worming if necessary and any other test or procedure our vets feel is needed.  All of our rescue dogs are microchipped as well.

For instance, recently we've run into two dogs with rear dew claws.  Most dogs do not have them on the back feet.  The decision to have them removed is made on a case by case basis because the laser surgery to have this done is quite expensive.  If they are frequently getting snagged and getting injured, we do recommend that they be removed, since they contain a rather large artery and any serious injury to that part of a dog's anatomy can cause him to  bleed to death rather quickly.  We always try to do what is best for the dog, no matter what it costs us.  Of course donations towards our veterinary expenses are always needed and gratefully accepted.

Q.  What do I do if I have to give up my dog?  Can you find him a good home?
A.  If you are no longer able to care for your purebred German Shepherd Dog and wish to ensure that it finds a new home where it will be loved and cared for, you will need to complete an Owner Surrender Request.  It is important that you answer all the questions honestly so that we may better assess your dog's needs and match him with the perfect forever family.

Unless we have an open foster home, you will need to continue to care for your dog until a suitable new home can be found.  Of course there are exceptions but the first step for you is to complete the Owner Surrender Request.  We will help you and your dog if we possibly can.

Q.  What's wrong with offering my dog in a FREE TO GOOD HOME advertisement?
A.  People value what they pay for. Pets obtained for free are are less likely to be spayed or neutered by their new owners (why bother with vet bills?), and more likely to be abused and/or discarded, because "there are plenty more where that came from!" A recent study at one animal shelter yielded the startling statistic that 41% of all owner-surrendered dogs had been obtained "Free to good home."  There are many other absolutely horrifying reasons that this is a bad idea if you care about your dog.  Read more here.

Q.  What are the normal expenses associated with owning a dog?
A.  The following is an excerpt from Petfinder.com's The Adopted Dog Bible

Annual Dog Care Costs

Adopting a dog requires a financial commitment to her health and well- being. This chart will give you a rough idea of how big a commitment you should plan on. (These costs are estimates based on a survey of pet parents around the country—some may be higher or lower depending on where you live and the dog you adopt.) 

*Do not supplement your dog’s diet without consulting your veterinarian.
**Heartworm tests and prevention are necessary wherever there is risk of exposure.

Q.  Where do your dogs come from? Why are they in rescue? Doesn't it mean they created some problems before?
A.  Dogs are taken into rescue for two basic reasons. First is the 'stray' or 'abandoned' dog found in shelters, and we never know why most are there. Sometimes the dog is sick, sometimes people do not monitor their pets and they 'escape'. Maybe the fence isn't tall enough; maybe they left their German Shepherd unattended in a backyard and a gate left open; in any case, these reasons are not the fault of the dog, but the fault of negligent owners.

The second reason is owner-surrender, and normally this is because of a life-style change of  the owner. Maybe they are relocating and can not take their German Shepherd Dog; possibly they have a job change and can no longer spend time with him; or possibly they are getting married and no longer feel that the dog will fit in.  Now with the economy the way it is, more and more good dogs are becoming victims of the real estate and foreclosure crisis.

Sometimes the original owner buys a dog on impulse, such as a cute little puppy at the pet store. The owner is not prepared for the usual problems such as housebreaking and chewing, or the dog's ultimate size and strength. The owner may have bought the dog for a child who may be too young to be responsible for the dog. Other reasons for abandoning a dog include moving, inability to handle behavioral problems and the challenge of arranging care when the owner travels.

We also occasionally help with breeder referrals. These are retired show dogs or obedience dogs, or sometimes youngsters that didn't progress as planned, or even dogs that have been returned to the breeder for some of the same reasons we get owner surrender. These dogs are healthy well-bred dogs and just need a family of their own.

Remember, when you adopt a dog of any kind you are committing to the entire life of your dog.